Discussing Strategy in the Tiger Tent

"Discussing Strategy in the Tiger Tent" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 15 moves; the key first move is R5=2. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

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Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Elephants, a Chariot, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Advisor, 5 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R5=2 (threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
1. Black A4-5
1. Black A4-5
2. Red R2+4
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
2. Black P5=4 (check, threatens mate next move)
2. Black P5=4
3. Red K6+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
3. Black K5=4
3. Black K5=4
4. Red R2+1 (check, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
4. Black K4+1
4. Black K4+1
5. Red P5+1 (captures the Advisor, check, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Advisor.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
5. Black K4=5 (captures the Soldier)
5. Black K4=5
6. Red R2-5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
6. Black P7=6
6. Black P7=6
7. Red R2=5 (check)
7. Black K5=4
7. Black K5=4
8. Red R5=6 (check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
8. Black K4=5
8. Black K4=5
9. Red P1=2
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black P3+1
9. Black P3+1
10. Red R6-1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black P3+1 (check)
10. Black P3+1
11. Red K6-1
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black +P=5
11. Black +P=5
12. Red P2=3
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 12 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
12. Black P6+1
12. Black P6+1
13. Red P3=4 (threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 8 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P3=4 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
13. Black P3=4
14. Red R6-2 (captures the Soldier, sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 5 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
14. Black P5=4 (captures the Chariot, check, threatens mate next move)
14. Black P5=4
15. Red K6+1 (captures the Soldier)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
15. Red K6+1

Variations and alternative defences

What if Black defends differently? The alternatives below were checked with the rules engine; lines marked with a mating move lose at once, the others are worth trying on the analysis board.

1. Black A4-5
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R2+5. Try it on the board
2. Black P5=4
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
3. Black K5=4
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
4. Black K4+1
- If Black plays A5-6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
5. Black K4=5
- If Black plays K4+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R2-2. Try it on the board
6. Black P7=6
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P7=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
7. Black K5=4
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
9. Black P3+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black P3+1
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black +P=5
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
12. Black P6+1
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black P3=4
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: Red mates immediately with R6=5. Try it on the board
14. Black P5=4
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Discussing Strategy in the Tiger Tent"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Xinwu Endgame Collection.

How many moves does the solution take?

15 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.

What is the key move?

The first move R5=2 starts the combination. Everything that follows depends on it.

Can I play this position myself?

Yes. Open it on ChessZing, where the board checks your moves and shows the solution if you get stuck.

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